92 
NATURE NOTES 
to by anyone, with no very special amount of botanical knowledge ; and, as we 
cannot imagine a better training in the art of seeing than such an attempt with 
this book in hand during the present Spring season, we the less regret that our 
limited space forbids our selecting any particular examples of Sir John's method. 
Young Shoot of Tulip-tree, nat. size. 
The Tulip-tree {Liriodendron tulipiferd), of the young shoot of which we are able, 
by the kindness of the author and publishers, to present an illustration, is a case of 
great interest, the unravelling of which has been one of the author’s special 
achievements ; and when we say that this is only one among ten or more drawings 
of this one species, it will be realised that this is one of the most fully illustrated 
volumes in the series. 
The Dawn of Reason, or Menial Trails in the Lower Animals. By James 
Weir, Jun., M.D.New York. The Macmillan Company. Price 5 s. 
This little work is of much the same scope as Sir John Lubbock’s “ Senses, 
Instincts and Intelligence of Animals ; ” but, though the author modestly .speaks of 
it as dealing mainly with insects, he by no means neglects to illustrate his theme 
from other animals, both higher and lower — far lower. He gives us a perfect 
store-house of marvellous tales of animal intelligence, most of them at first hand, 
clearly narrated in the American language. Though we are not disposed to 
altogether deny his main thesis that “ mind in the lower animals is the same in 
kind as that of man,” or that ‘‘intelligent ratiocination performs an important r6le 
in the drama of their lives,” we he.sitate to accept all his psychology, as we think 
that in some cases he evinces far too imaginative a faculty of reading conscious 
determination in what are probably the simplest of reflex actions. We are not 
yet prepared to admit “a well-developed nervous system” in Stentor, are 
reminded in this part of the work of M. Binet’s unfortunate ‘‘ Psychic Life of 
Micro-organisms.” The words letisimulation, from letum, death, and simutare, 
to feign, for “ playing ’po.s.suni,” and iincitimulation, for the habit familiar in the 
case of the chameleon, seem useful, and one of the original features of the book is 
the claim that this latter and the .sense of direction, or .so-called “homing 
instinct,” are sensual and not instinctive. Though marred by a certain “cock- 
sureness,” the book is certainly one of great interest ami demands careful 
consideration. 
'I'he Strength and Decay of Nations. I. — Forestry. II. — British Forestry. 
Being two essays with notes. By Giles Andrew Daubeny. London : Simpkm, 
Marshall. Price is. 
Anyone who is interested in the ([ucstion of forestry — one of vital importance 
certainly in many paits of our tmpire^ — .should certainly procure this powerfully- 
worded plea by Mr. Daubeny, a portion of which appeared in NATURE Notes. 
